Common Craft Blog
Explainer Tip: Stop Talking About Technology
By leelefever on July 28, 2009 - 7:45am
The following post is a part of a series called "Explainer Tips" where we share lessons we've learned in crafting explanations.
You likely have friends and family members who consider themselves non-technical. When discussion turns to anything related to computer, they throw up their hands and say "I just don't get tech stuff!" The truth is, this is the vast majority of people. And it's completely understandable why they feel this way. Technology can be very intimidating and many of the most popular tools are poorly designed for a new user.
But it's not just technology - it's how we talk about technology. The most simple and user friendly tools can sound intimidating if we insist on using terms like XML, extranet, APIs, etc. There is no end to confusing technology language.
The next time a novice asks you about technology, here are questions I want you to ask yourself:
- How can I explain this without talking about technology?
- Can I use a real-world example to explain this instead of the actual technology?
- What is this person likely to understand that I can use as a comparison?
A classic example is email. Let's say your long lost uncle emerges from the woods and says "What's email?" You have a choice: You can tell him about computers, SMTP, domains and headers or think of something that he already understands, like the Postal Service. To make it easy for your uncle, forget technology and start by talking about snail mail. Establish the value of being able to communicate written messages over long distance. Talk about using pens and typewriters. Talk about how long it takes and why it's painful. He will get it. Then, the jump to technology is easier. Email is the same as sending a letter but more efficient because we have computers instead of pens and typewriters.
By taking technology out of the picture in the beginning and speaking in recognizable terms, you can prevent your audience from throwing up their hands and saying "I don't get technology!" Instead, you're offering an invitation - an introduction to the subject that speaks in their language and lives in their world.
Other Explainer Tips:
Remember the Curse of Knowledge
Great post
Man, does this happen ALL the time! Especially with the older generation,.. Or even those from my own generation that have yet to join the conversations. But what a great suggestion and simple. Sometimes we tend to complicate things.
adaptation
We have to do these things so that the older generation will not left behind. Though it would be difficult for us to make them understand about technology, it is still our responsibility to share what we have because in the first place it's our generation who invented it.
We can observe a similar adaptation in terms of teaching students in schools. As much as possible, teachers and professors should find a way to make the class focus on the subject matter and not let them left behind the lesson.
Ms. M
1WeddingSource
Wedding Songs
Stop Talking about Technology
The Post seems to be dealing with what people know and not about what they know.. It is really easy to explain something about to people with relating to what they know.
This is what helps them to absorb what we say..
Amarjit Singh Kullar
http://www.amarjitsinghkullar.us
Technology is . . .
There's an adage: Technology is just the stuff that came into use after you were a kid. So, part of the trick is recognizing cultural and/or generational differences in familiarity with what we consider real-world stuff, but to others might still be "technology."
We can pretty safely assume that everyone is familiar with the typewriter, but that's a good example of serious "technology" that, at least going back in time a bit, would not be familiar to everyone.
Also, we have the opposite issue now, with technological change being so rapid, that things we adults think are good real-world examples are not familiar to kids.
A good illustration of this is the recent BBC story "Giving up my iPod for a Walkman" about a 13-year old trying to figure out a Walkman (e.g., it takes him several days to realize that cassette's have two sides):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8117619.stm
So true
I had a similar experience the other day with my dad (87). We were talking about RSS. I used pen, paper and print publications as analogy; he totally got the explanation. Love your work.
Talking about technology
Boy, did you ever hit the nail on the head! As someone in the field of adult education for >20 years, I am constantly frustrated working with experts who seem more intent on showing how smart they are than on making sure the learner understands and uses what they learn. This isn't just in learning technology, but also in science, mathematics and even management. Instructors can make things seem as simple-or as complicated-as they want.
Keep doing your great work!
Skip technology explain it in real time
Who the heck cares about technology? Those geniuses who love it and can immerse themselves in it with passion. We may interpret what they say as bragging about knowledge as opposed to giving us applied knowledge.
If we want peace it has to start in our everyday relationships. Get to the heart of the people with real-time explanations. Teach the children, don't teach them what you know, that doesn't matter to them. Forget describing the computer, describe what it can do for us.
My grown son told me I was like a part on a computer. I asked "What does that part do?" I had a need to understand. I then felt the communication gap was explained!
Lee great job as always. Communication is what you do so well, it is your essence. Thank you. lovetipsguru@gmail.com
I had the "Uh... What's an
I had the "Uh... What's an API?" asked of me when I mentioned something. I think I was talking about how Google had created a 3D API for websites.
I kind of meant not to say it, but it was half out of my mouth before I realized.
Putting my Dad on Zovue.com
I agree, try to make an explanation analogous to something the learner already knows and is comfortable with. For example, I've tried to get my father, who is 68 and not tech savvy, to join a social network. Now he still can't use the DVD player, VCR, and barely able to work the microwave. He is able to use a PC but barely - mainly excel. To make things easy I went looking for a family friendly social network that is easy to use. And one that won't bombard him with requests, invites, and game applications cluttering the screen. I decided to introduce him to Zovue (www.zovue.com) because of the intuitive graphical interface - or as I told him - it's clean and pretty.
Once we got him signed up I had to explain what his profile was - that was not too hard, but he was reluctant to put any info in (not a bad idea for a novice). I used the analogy of the shopping mall. I told him you can go look around, see other people, buy things... He started to understand a bit so I left him with it. One useful feature of Zovue was that it has remote webpage sharing so I could show him around without having to be at his side. He liked that. One big seller for him was the fact that you can upload HQ photos and video on Zovue and share them with your network of friends(if you want). Now he has started adding his friends and family but I'm not sure if he will stick with it.
Typo
Great post! But don't forget...you don't want them to throw up "their" hands. :-)
Ack!
Oh man, thanks for letting me know Meagan. I promise I know the correct usage. :) All fixed.
Right on!
You hit the nail on the head, Lee. For the last year, I've been running a blog (http://explaintechnology.wordpress.com/) to try to advocate for approaches like these. I'm looking forward to your next post on the Curse of Knowledge, as I posted on that previously as well. If you're ever interested in the analogy-based PC primer I've been working on, look me up.
People do change
Internet technology has grown too fast. If you are building a website for a client and tell him that you will be using PHP, MySQL, Ajax, HTML and you will have to point the DNS to my name servers. I am sure a new person who does not know much about these will get confused. We can always explain them in their language and the purpose the website will solve.
-Brian from http://www.dropshipaccess.com
You likely have friends and
You likely have friends and family members who consider themselves non-technical. When discussion turns to anything related to computer, they throw up there hands and say "I just don't get tech stuff!"
The truth is, this is the vast majority of people. And it's completely understandable why they feel this way. Technology can be very intimidating and many of the most popular tools are poorly designed for a new
birds photography
So Right.
You hit the mark perfect on this one. I so enjoy your post and look forward to your future ones. Keep them comming.
~ Sherrie from www.herbscancure.com
Let it aside for a while...
I like this post. I mean its interesting because, like me, I've always encountered people who were unfamiliar with technology. Or should I say, they are innocent when it comes to techie stuff. Once I've known that the person I'm talking to, has no interest in this stuff of course I would think other interesting subject that can be a topic to our discussion in order to create a good conversation. It's also important that we could put aside the things we know when we want to build an entertaining conversation.
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